Features of walking with a newborn
To be precise, infancy lasts exactly 28 days for a baby, after which it is automatically considered not a newborn. At this time, the mother’s immune defense is still present in the child’s body and therefore the child will not be able to get sick. But this, as they say, is ideal, but in fact, colds in newborns are not so uncommon. In this case, there is no need to panic; a timely visit to a doctor will help to correctly diagnose the cause of a runny nose and a treatment plan.
After all possible measures have been taken and the baby’s temperature (with possible increases) has returned to normal, the child is quite ready for walks. Previously, pediatricians advised starting to get acquainted with the street after about a week for a few minutes a day, gradually increasing the time to the standard two hours. Now the approach is more loyal; long walks with the baby right from birth are not prohibited, provided the weather conditions are quite comfortable.
If a newborn has a runny nose, walks are even recommended, since it is in outdoor conditions that it is easier to preserve the natural background of the nasal sinuses. In a dry or dusty room, a runny nose will last longer, so regular ventilation and moisturizing will be useful. To do this, you can buy a special device that controls the level of comfortable air humidity, or you can use “grandmother’s” means by hanging wet towels on radiators or installing containers with water. You can read the link by following the link. You may also be wondering, .
Is it possible for a child with a Komarovsky temperature to go outside?
The overwhelming majority of the adult parent population wants to hear specific instructions from the pediatrician - specifically, when and how much is allowed and, accordingly, when and what is not allowed. We have to disappoint you right away - there can be no universal recommendations. But the main factor that determines the recommendations is not the weather, not health, not the willingness of grandmothers to sacrifice themselves, but the education system adopted from infancy.
An elementary example. There are two important reflexogenic zones on the human body - the ear and the foot. If socks and hats were and are a prerequisite for a child’s lifestyle, then cold exposure to these same areas will quickly lead to a cold. It would seem, well, what’s incomprehensible here? If from an early age a child runs barefoot (at least around the apartment), and at three years old climbs into a November puddle, then there is absolutely nothing dangerous to health in this. But this same puddle can pose a real threat if, again from an early age, a crowd of child-loving relatives ran after the baby with socks and slippers in their hands.
Many people, after reading the previous paragraph, will regret that the train has left. But you still need to go for a walk. So let's get down to recommendations.
The main danger of walking is associated with hypothermia and overheating. Both occur much more easily in children than in adults - this is a feature of a growing organism (imperfect thermoregulation systems and rapid depletion of energy reserves). The main criterion is the behavior of the child himself. Neither hypothermia nor overheating occurs suddenly (you walked and walked and suddenly froze). If the child does not complain about anything, there is no thirst (the first sign of overheating) - do not fuss and walk calmly. The more extreme the weather conditions, the less desirable it is for children to walk independently (without adults), if only because the accompanying person can always rely on their own feelings.
Now a few specific words about COLDS. A cold is a disease caused by hypothermia. Imagine that you or your child have a microbe living in their throat (on their tonsils) called staphylococcus (and it actually lives in almost 100% of people). The proliferation of this microbe is constantly restrained by the immune system, and for many decades you peacefully coexist with staphylococcus. Under the influence of hypothermia, the protective forces are weakened, the microbe begins to multiply rapidly and causes illness. It is clear that a cold is not an infectious or contagious disease, but a personal problem of a specific frozen individual[1].
Walking with a baby
For children under one year old, walks not only help strengthen the immune system, but also contribute to their psychomotor development. A grown-up baby eagerly explores the world, so a walk is an ideal opportunity to direct his energy in the right direction. If the weather outside is comfortable and the child does not have a high temperature of 37.5º C or more, walks will only bring benefits. In case of a contagious disease, you can temporarily limit contact with other children, so it is better to take a car, stroller, crayons, a ball and other toys for playing outdoors.
Often, at the first signs of the disease, children's activity drops sharply, and the child complains of weakness. In this case, you should not forcefully drag the baby “to get some fresh air.” It is better to ensure a flow of oxygen into the room, and after the condition improves, the baby himself will drag you outside.
How long should the walk last?
Those parents who do not know at what temperature it is possible to walk with their child should pay attention to the weather conditions.
- Subzero temperature. If a child develops a cold or an infectious disease of the respiratory system, accompanied by temperature disturbances, you can go for a walk with the baby, but only taking into account the general condition of the patient. The difference between the temperature of inhaled and exhaled air can lower the baby's body temperature.
- If a child develops a cough or runny nose outside, it is not recommended to suddenly bring him into a warm room. You need to wait until the baby clears his throat. Otherwise, you can only worsen his condition. While walking, you should constantly check your baby's collar. If it becomes wet, then you need to return home and change your outfit to a lighter one.
- If it's hot outside. In the summer, when the air temperature often exceeds the 20-degree barrier, it is recommended to move the walking time to early morning or evening. This way you can avoid possible overheating in the sun. Morning is the most favorable time for walking with a sick baby. Not only fresh air is useful, but also a change of environment that will lift your spirits.
- Walking in bad weather. In bad weather it is better to stay at home. On a rainy day, you can go out to the balcony with your baby and get some fresh air. It is important to ensure that the child does not get wet. In other cases, you should wait until the weather returns to normal and only then resume going outside.
Article on the topic: Harmful consequences: low-calorie sweets
Walking with a sick child: Komarovsky’s opinion
Known for his radical views on the upbringing and treatment of children, Evgeniy Komarovsky also convinces of the benefits of being in the fresh air, even with a sick child. According to him, fresh air will help defeat the disease faster, and providing opportunities for physical activity will strengthen the child’s immune system.
The video explains whether it is possible to walk with a child with a runny nose:
A walk “along Komarovsky” is, first of all, ensuring the baby’s motor activity. You cannot wrap your child head over heels in warm clothes and demand that he just sit on a bench. An ideal walk when the child is actively moving in comfortable clothes. You should choose it based on the calculation: one layer less than your mother’s. The child will not have time to freeze in such a short time, and clothes that do not hinder movement will help to get the maximum benefit from such a pastime.
For infants and toddlers who do not yet move much, a walk is still very important. Ideally, this should be a quiet place, away from industrial areas and busy roads. If you have a park or square nearby, you are very lucky. If there are no such places, you can sit with your baby in the yard or even just go out onto the balcony.
Depending on the cause of a runny nose, which may be a manifestation of an allergy, it is necessary to direct efforts to eliminate the factors causing such a reaction in the body. The child needs help in creating conditions suitable for recovery, in which a walk is an important event.
Is it possible/should you take a walk with your child if you have a runny nose? Of course! Given fairly comfortable weather conditions and the absence of high fever and weakness, a walk in the fresh air will help quickly defeat the disease and contribute to the normal functioning of the entire body in general and the respiratory system in particular.
The famous pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky is also convinced of the advisability of walking, especially with a sick baby. Infancy and infancy are also not a hindrance, the main thing is to choose the right weather. Regular walks with children of any age will help strengthen the immune system and cope with any diseases faster. You can read how to rinse your nose with salt.
With the onset of cold weather, most parents, especially inexperienced ones, have many questions regarding walks. How to dress so as not to freeze and sweat? Is it possible to walk with a runny nose, cough or fever? Should you leave the house in the cold? Let's figure it out together with a pediatrician, candidate of medical sciences and popular TV presenter Evgeniy Komarovsky.
How to dress a child? This is the first thing parents think about when studying the weather forecast every morning. After all, the main thing is to choose clothes so that the baby does not freeze, but also does not overheat.
As for infants, who mostly lie in a stroller and sleep, it is almost impossible to overheat them: the baby will still spend excess heat on heating the inhaled cold air, says Evgeny Komarovsky. - So you can easily dress it the way you think is right. It is clear that for the first time you will most likely wrap him up too warmly, simply because the fear of cold is ingrained in the minds of most mothers and grandmothers. If you return from a walk, undress your baby and see that he is red and sweaty, next time put less clothes on him.
Choose quality clothes
Another thing is a child who walks actively: runs, jumps, slides and rolls in the snow.
In children, metabolism proceeds faster than in adults, and where the mother is cool, the child is normal, and where the adult is normal, the baby is warm, emphasizes Dr. Komarovsky. - Therefore, wear one less layer of clothing on him than on yourself. Moreover, now you can find ideal winter sets for children on sale - at the same time warm and not restricting movement. By the way, a high-quality cream that protects your hands and face from wind and frost will also not be superfluous.
Can a balcony replace the street?
Definitely yes, Evgeniy Komarovsky is sure. Dress your baby in street clothes, put him in the stroller cradle and take him out onto the balcony. The sooner you accustom your baby to such “walks,” the greater the chance that he will accept them calmly.
A balcony is convenient,” says Evgeniy Olegovich. — While the baby is sleeping, you can sleep yourself, cook dinner, read or clean the apartment. Although, of course, it is worth remembering the safety of the child - close the windows so that there is no wind, and the neighbor’s cigarette butt does not fly onto the balcony.
In general, when it comes to newborns, you can walk with them in winter from the 10th day of life, and the balcony is best suited for this.
The first time, sit with your child on the balcony for 15-20 minutes, the next day - twice for half an hour, and then gradually increase the frequency and duration of the “walks,” explains Dr. Komarovsky. — By the age of one month, it is quite possible to make sure that the child spends the whole day on the balcony in breaks between feedings and communication with parents. If he is properly dressed and protected from the wind, a healthy baby feels quite well even at sub-zero temperatures.
What if the child is sick?
It all depends on the condition and well-being of the baby, as well as on what exactly the child is sick with:
- If his temperature is above 37.5°C, it is better not to go outside, especially if the temperature outside is below zero. The reason is that cold air causes spasm of skin blood vessels, reduces heat loss and increases the temperature of internal organs.
- If the doctor has prescribed strict bed rest (for example, for diphtheria), you should also not go for a walk.
- If the disease is contagious (say, the flu or another acute respiratory viral infection), and the child’s condition is normal, you can go for a walk, but so as not to transmit the virus to other children.
- If a child has a cold caused by hypothermia, when microbes living in the body begin to actively multiply due to weakening of the body, walks can and should be resumed immediately after the temperature subsides. This will be a strength test for the developed antibodies and one of the hardening options.
- If your baby is recovering from a respiratory illness (pneumonia, bronchitis, tracheitis, laryngitis), going for a walk is a must.
Important!
Is your child coughing? This means that the sputum in the bronchi has been moistened and now needs to be coughed out. Don't go home right away - wait until all the mucus comes out.
The vast majority of parents want to hear specific instructions regarding walks from their pediatrician. But there can be no universal recommendations. The main factor is not the weather, not health, but the educational system adopted from infancy.
Evgeny Komarovsky: | |
An elementary example. If socks and hats are a prerequisite for a child’s lifestyle, then exposure to cold on the legs and head will quickly lead to a cold. But if from an early age a child runs barefoot - at least around the apartment - and at 3 years old climbs into a November puddle, then there is nothing dangerous to health in this. But this same puddle can pose a real threat if, again from an early age, a crowd of child-loving relatives ran after the baby with socks and slippers in their hands. |
Meanwhile
Let's walk all day
If the child is healthy and well dressed, there are no restrictions on the time of walking in winter. Ideally, you can go out after breakfast, go in for lunch, and go out again before dinner.
A scarf won't help!
Tying a baby’s mouth and nose with a scarf in the cold is absolutely pointless, Evgeniy Komarovsky is sure. Not a single scarf can compare with the mucous membranes and sinuses of the nose in its ability to warm the inhaled air.
Find out more about how to walk with your child in the cold season on the official website of Evgeny Komarovsky komarovskiy.net in the “Books” sections (text
How can walking be dangerous? The biggest trouble is overheating or hypothermia of the body while walking. In infants, thermoregulation is still poorly developed, and the body’s energy reserves are also depleted quite quickly, because of this, children (more often than adults) experience malfunctions leading to overheating or hypothermia. What should you pay attention to to prevent such cases? Of course, for a child. Any change has a basis that does not occur abruptly. For example, if you suspect possible overheating, and the child does not ask for water, then there is probably no reason to worry.
As a rule, the disease does not occur suddenly. The mother should simply pay attention to the child’s well-being at home and on the street, note changes, and take preventive measures if necessary.
Walks and illnesses.
The overwhelming majority of the adult parent population wants to hear specific instructions from the pediatrician - specifically, when and how much is allowed and, accordingly, when and what is not allowed. We have to disappoint you right away - there can be no universal recommendations. But the main factor that determines the recommendations is not the weather, not health, not the willingness of grandmothers to sacrifice themselves, but the education system adopted from infancy.
An elementary example. There are two important reflexogenic zones on the human body - the ear and the foot. If socks and hats were and are a prerequisite for a child’s lifestyle, then cold exposure to these same areas will quickly lead to a cold. It would seem, well, what’s incomprehensible here? If from an early age a child runs barefoot (at least around the apartment), and at three years old climbs into a November puddle, then there is absolutely nothing dangerous to health in this. But this same puddle can pose a real threat if, again from an early age, a crowd of child-loving relatives ran after the baby with socks and slippers in their hands.
Many people, after reading the previous paragraph, will regret that the train has left. But you still need to go for a walk. So let's get down to recommendations.
The main danger of walking is associated with hypothermia and overheating. Both occur much more easily in children than in adults - this is a feature of a growing organism (imperfect thermoregulation systems and rapid depletion of energy reserves). The main criterion is the behavior of the child himself. Neither hypothermia nor overheating occurs suddenly (you walked and walked and suddenly froze). If the child does not complain about anything, there is no thirst (the first sign of overheating) - do not fuss and walk calmly. The more extreme the weather conditions, the less desirable it is for children to walk independently (without adults), if only because the accompanying person can always rely on their own feelings.
Now a few specific words about COLDS. A cold is a disease caused by hypothermia. Imagine that you or your child have a microbe living in their throat (on their tonsils) called staphylococcus (and it actually lives in almost 100% of people). The proliferation of this microbe is constantly restrained by the immune system, and for many decades you peacefully coexist with staphylococcus. Under the influence of hypothermia, the protective forces are weakened, the microbe begins to multiply rapidly and causes illness. It is clear that a cold is not an infectious or contagious disease, but a personal problem of a specific frozen individual[1].
So what is next? The microbe multiplies, the body produces protective antibodies and the disease recedes. What happens if after a short time you become hypothermic again? Staphylococcus will begin to multiply, but since the antibodies produced last time are still preserved, the disease either will not begin or will proceed much easier. This is the essence of hardening - by consciously activating our own microbes, we ultimately bring immunity to such a high level that cold can no longer cause illness.
Conclusion - if the slightest hypothermia causes a cold in a child, under no circumstances keep him at home after the temperature has normalized and the symptoms of the disease have disappeared.
By and large, illness and walking are incompatible only for the following reasons. Firstly, when body temperature rises, cold air causes spasm of skin blood vessels, reduces heat loss and increases the temperature of internal organs, which is not desirable (threshold value is 37.5 ° C; if higher, it’s definitely not worth going for a walk). Secondly, physical activity and maintaining body temperature require significant energy expenditure, and energy is more needed to fight the disease.
Thus, situations when you cannot go for a walk are hundreds of times less common than situations when you need to go for a walk.
It is impossible in the acute period of infectious diseases - when it is really bad: high temperature, weakness, pain.
It is not possible for some, rather rare diseases, when strict bed rest is necessary (a typical example is diphtheria).
Is it possible to walk if you have a cough or runny nose?
The question that concerns most fathers and mothers is: is it possible to walk with a child with a runny nose, especially in winter? The answer is clear: yes, you can. The inflamed nasal mucosa needs a comfortable environment for successful work - fresh air. Humidity should be high and temperatures moderately low. It is problematic to create such conditions at home, but there is no shortage of them outside in cool summers, spring, and autumn.
Cool air has a beneficial effect on the bronchi and promotes the separation of sputum, this is especially noticeable with a dry type of cough. The wet type of cough also receives relief in the fresh air: the bronchial lumen expands, breathing becomes freer and the removal of sputum accelerates.
After an illness, an infant should be taken outside every day. It is the humid air of the street that will contribute to the rapid restoration of the body's protective resources. Doctors say that if you stay at home with your child all the time, then the snot will torment the baby for a week, but with festivities it will go away in 3 days.
A newborn suffering from a runny nose and even a cough should take a walk. A sick child needs moist fresh air even more than his healthy friends. However, there are some cases in which having a runny nose and walking are incompatible.
Is temperature a reason to stay at home?
Walking is contraindicated if the child’s runny nose and cough are associated with the development of ARVI in the acute stage (we recommend reading:). The following symptoms are typical:
- temperature above 38 °C;
- severe malaise;
- poor appetite;
- chills, fever;
- headache.
The causative agent of ARVI is a group of viruses. It is better to wait out a viral runny nose in the acute stage at home and only after this acute period has passed to go outside.
Such symptoms in a baby will not allow any parent to take their child out of the house. How much time should you spend at home during illness? The serious condition usually goes away after 2-3 days, then the child notices a drop in temperature, his appetite appears and his health improves significantly. The child may cough and suffer from snot for another 5 days or even more, but walks during this period are no longer canceled (we recommend reading:).
It’s a completely different matter if a child is allergic to flowers and pollen, and it’s the height of flowering outside. In this case, walking will only worsen the child’s condition, increase sneezing and aggravate allergic rhinitis. Children are susceptible to ARVI much more often than to allergic rhinitis. Having identified that the child is allergic to plants and trees, you can go for a walk, providing the baby with a cotton-gauze bandage.
As a rule, allergies to pollen and flowers are observed in older children, but infants can also be susceptible to it. In this case, going outside without respiratory protection should be temporarily canceled
The above can easily be applied to adults. Walking is contraindicated for adults only during acute acute respiratory viral infections. An aggravated allergic rhinitis should not prevent you from going for a walk - you should arm yourself with a gauze bandage or Nazaval spray.
Conclusion: if the thermometer shows a normal temperature, but the baby is coughing and snot is flowing, you are allowed to go for a walk. The presence of an elevated temperature says a firm “no” to walking.
Doctor Komarovsky's opinion
Let us explain why you should not walk when you have a fever or during acute periods of a cold. Cold air can cause vasospasm in the skin, which will reduce heat loss and increase body temperature. A temperature above 37.5 °C is indicative to refuse walks - this will be the answer to the question of whether it is possible to walk with a child with a fever. It takes a lot of energy to defeat the virus, and while on the street the body will spend considerable energy maintaining body temperature, wasting valuable resources on unnecessary physical activity in this case.
There is only a small list of diseases that strictly prohibit walking:
- infectious diseases in the acute phase with characteristic symptoms: high fever, headaches, weakness;
- an illness requiring strict bed rest - for example, diphtheria.
Fresh air is the path to health
Fresh air is a faithful assistant on the path to recovery. This is especially true for diseases associated with the respiratory tract (tracheitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, pneumonia). Of course, parents must take other facts into account. Let’s take for example a child suffering from pneumonia: the exacerbation stage has passed, the temperature has subsided and health has improved significantly. In this case, it is recommended to walk, but without excessive activity, i.e. the child only needs fresh air instead of a dusty apartment. Dr. Komarovsky advises dressing warmly and not running, avoiding active movements. It is not always possible to restrain the activity of children, so in such cases, take the baby to the balcony for a “walk”.
Attention! Cool and even cold air increases blood saturation of the bronchial mucosa, moisturizes phlegm, and the secretory glands begin to work more actively. If, with a dry cough, the child has the first urge to cough, this is an excellent sign that indicates that the baby is beginning to cough up the accumulated phlegm in the lungs.
Parents or grandmothers sometimes understand this completely differently. They associate coughing on the street with an even worse development of the disease and the child is immediately sent home (see also:). You should not do this, because the mucus moistened as a result of the walk will increase in size and it will become harder for the child to breathe. Difficulty breathing after a walk will make parents “believe” that the walk was harmful. Don’t make mistakes - continue therapeutic walks until complete recovery.
October 4, 2013, 11:46 pm
Walking
No matter how wonderful the children's room is, the baby still needs fresh air, and the more, the better, because it is completely natural for him.
You should always strive to ensure that the child is allocated (found) a place where he will walk. In principle, a balcony is ideal if you live in the city, or a certain place in the yard if you have your own home. The most difficult situation is when there is neither one nor the other: any walk requires the constant presence of adults near the child, who also have other things to do (washing, cleaning, sleeping, cooking, etc.).
First, let's look at the most standard, and therefore the most common, situation.
So, the child lives with his parents in an ordinary apartment in a multi-storey residential building. Even before arriving from the maternity hospital, the balcony should be prepared for the festivities - cleared of rubbish, it would be nice if it was glazed, but this is not at all necessary. We will put a stroller on the balcony, and the child will sleep in it.
The situation is completely irrational when, in the presence of a balcony, heroic efforts are made to pull the stroller out onto the street and then drag it back.
The mother’s walks, which consist of rolling the stroller from one street to another, are not necessary for the child. I understand perfectly well that you really want to show your neighbors and friends a newfangled house on wheels, but a baby cannot understand this. Mom always has a lot of things to do, and there will be nothing good if you walk around to your heart's content, and dad, who comes home from work, will scour the kitchen in search of something to eat. In addition, it is not at all necessary for passers-by to sneeze on the child and for dirt to fly from under the wheels.
Any driving through the streets should be driven by necessity: there are no helpers, but you need to visit a store or a dairy kitchen, it’s time to visit the clinic, in the evening you want to take a walk with your husband and take a break from the hustle and bustle of home, there is no balcony, after all.
The sooner you start teaching your child to be outdoors, the better. Already on the tenth day of life, you can sit with him on the balcony for 15–20 minutes. The next day - twice for half an hour and, gradually increasing the frequency and duration of the festivities, by the age of one month, make sure that the child spends the whole day on the balcony.
Woke up, fed and went for a walk. They brought him in, fed him, took him for a walk, and so on. On the balcony, the child always sleeps better and eats with more appetite afterwards. And it’s completely incomprehensible why you need to go for a walk once or twice a day.
A special issue is weather conditions. With normal clothing and protection of the child from the wind, a healthy baby feels quite well even at sub-zero temperatures. Here's a rule that's easy to remember: for every month of life - minus 5 °C, but not lower than 15 °C. I translate: at the age of 1–2 months the temperature should not be below minus 5 °C, at 2–3 months - below minus 10 °C, etc.
All the given figures and terms are very, very conditional. With adequate clothing, the temperature range is extremely wide, and the time is simply unlimited.
By and large, cold creates noticeably fewer problems with walking compared to warmth (remember, back in the chapter “Pregnancy” we advocated for the baby to be born in the fall). In the summer, in the heat, especially if the balcony is on the sunny side, it is generally impossible to walk and you should look for the coolest place in the house or in the yard.
Parents are always concerned about how to dress their baby when going for a walk. This question can only be answered after you return. If your baby is sweaty and red, be sure to reduce the amount of clothing next time. Each child reacts differently to partying, and it is almost impossible to give universal recommendations. It would be understandable if you went overboard with your clothes the first time. The main thing is that you then draw the right conclusions. Usually, if a child is hot, he becomes capricious and quickly has to be brought into the house. It gets cold extremely rarely - adults are so intimidated by the cold that they never allow it to happen. At least I have never encountered a frozen child. But I saw children who surprisingly resembled boiled crayfish many times.
On the balcony, the child usually sleeps on his side. It is important to position the stroller in such a way that you can see his face through the window glass without jumping out onto the balcony.
Not only the child, but also his parents are interested in the described festivities. You will never have such “golden” time again. For the first 3–4 months of life, the baby sleeps peacefully on the balcony most of the day, allowing the mother to rest normally and put the children’s things, the apartment and herself in order.
It goes without saying that as the child grows, partying will become more of a problem, requiring time and attention.
But the main principles of the festivities
will remain for life:
● matching clothing and temperature;
● It’s easier for a child to stay warm by moving rather than getting dressed!
● if he says it’s hot, believe him and help.
Many mothers are often interested in the following question: “Is it possible to walk with a child with a runny nose?” The excitement of young mothers is understandable, because they worry about their children. In their opinion, a child’s weakened immune system is not able to fully cope with the numerous viruses and infections that await a child on the street. But we shouldn’t forget that street walks are extremely important for a child and you shouldn’t put him under “house arrest.” Let's take a closer look at all the pros and cons of children's outdoor trips!
Is it worth walking with a child at Komarovsky temperature?
It is human nature to live under a roof. Under this very roof, human beings realize most of their vital needs - they sleep, eat, study, get sick, make love and give birth to children. Adult humans, tired of the struggle for their place under the sun of civilization, often forget that in addition to the roof (option - ceiling) there is also the sky, clouds, stars and similar Charms of Nature. Sometimes natural roots take over and people just want to go for a walk. Just like that, without anything to do - walk your feet, breathe some fresh air. It’s terrible, of course, that the phrase “go outside” has become synonymous with the word “take a walk,” but a city dweller simply has no other options. Unlike adults, human cubs are noticeably closer to Nature and, accordingly, noticeably further from Civilization. Children's natural roots, instincts and needs require a much more natural way of life, and constant life under a roof, from a purely biological point of view, cannot be called natural. Thus, the child must walk. This is an axiom. A banal phrase that everyone agrees with. But the practical implementation of an indisputable theoretical position nevertheless raises many questions. How to walk? How much time? In what weather and what to wear? What is the connection between walking and illness? And if you get sick, when can you go out? So, it turns out, you need to learn to walk. Therefore, to begin with, let’s define the term - what meaning we put into the word “walk”. It is so customary that children’s walks and adults’ walks are interpreted somewhat differently. When they talk about adults hanging out, they often mean some kind of free time, mainly of sexual orientation (examples: “Ivanov’s wife is walking,” “Sergei Petrovich is walking wisely”). Public opinion cannot admit that an adult goes for a walk just like that - it’s a different matter when he’s with a dog or a child. The exception is pensioners. They are allowed to walk just like children (again, confirmation of the folk wisdom “both old and young”). It is for the above categories (I repeat - children of all age groups and pensioners) that walking means staying outdoors, not aiming to perform any other human functions. That is, the main meaning of the festivities is contact with the factors of nature with a parallel attempt to break away from the factors of civilization. It is important, however, to note that the proximity of pensioners and children makes it extremely advisable to use the former to actively walk the latter. Now we will try to list the advantages of walking, which arise from the disadvantages of the room. Any human habitation is:
- a reservoir of bacteria, including pathogenic ones;
- source of increased concentration of dust, household chemicals and allergens (carpets, upholstered furniture, wool, varnishes, dyes, chlorine, etc.);
- complete absence of contact with ultraviolet radiation, which is not particularly important for adults, but very significant for children - it is under the influence of UV rays that vitamin D is produced in the skin;
- any closed space leads to a sharp limitation of physical activity.
Staying in the fresh air allows, first of all, to cleanse the lungs of household dust accumulated in them and improve the functioning of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. An increase in energy expenditure - to maintain body temperature and physical activity - has a stimulating effect on all vital systems of the body, especially the cardiovascular and immune systems. “Rules of partying” allow us to identify three main areas that are subject to separate consideration: 1. Early childhood (newborn and first months of life); 2. Walks for healthy children; 3. The relationship between partying and illness. Let's look at them in order.
WALKING IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
You should always strive to ensure that the child is allocated (found) a place where he will walk. In principle, a balcony is ideal if you live in the city, or a certain place in the yard if you have your own home. The most difficult situation is when there is neither one nor the other: any walk requires the constant presence of adults near the child, who also have other things to do (washing, cleaning, sleeping, cooking, etc.). The situation is completely irrational when, in the presence of a balcony, heroic efforts are made to pull the stroller out onto the street and then drag it back. Walking, which consists of rolling a stroller from one street to another, is not necessary for the child - mom always has a lot of things to do, and there will be nothing good if you take a walk to your heart's content, and dad, who comes home from work, will scour the kitchen in search of something to eat. In addition, it is not at all necessary for passers-by to sneeze on the child and for dirt to fly from under the wheels. Any driving through the streets should be driven by necessity: there are no helpers, but you need to visit a store or a dairy kitchen, it’s time to visit the clinic, in the evening you want to take a walk with your husband and take a break from the hustle and bustle of home, there is no balcony, after all. The sooner you start teaching your child to be outdoors, the better. Already on the 10th day of life, you can sit with him on the balcony for 15-20 minutes. The next day - 2 times for half an hour and, gradually increasing the frequency and duration of the festivities, by the age of one month, make sure that the child spends the whole day on the balcony. Woke up, fed and went for a walk. They brought him in, fed him, took him for a walk, and so on. On the balcony, the child always sleeps better and eats with more appetite afterwards. And it’s completely unclear why you need to go for a walk 1 or 2 times a day. A special issue is weather conditions. With normal clothing and protection of the child from the wind, a healthy baby feels quite well even at sub-zero temperatures. Here’s a rule that’s easy to remember: for every month of life, minus 5 degrees, but not lower than 15. By and large, negative temperatures cause noticeably less trouble than positive ones. In the heat, especially if the balcony is on the sunny side, it is generally impossible to walk and you should look for the coolest place in the house or in the yard. Parents are always concerned about how to dress their baby when going for a walk. This question can only be answered after you return. If your baby is sweaty and red, be sure to reduce the amount of clothing next time. Each child reacts differently to partying and it is almost impossible to give universal recommendations. It would be understandable if you went overboard with your clothes the first time. The main thing is that you then draw the right conclusions. Usually, if a child is hot, he becomes capricious and quickly has to be brought into the house. It gets cold extremely rarely - adults are so intimidated by the cold that they never allow it. At least I have never encountered a frozen child. But I saw children who surprisingly resembled boiled crayfish many times.
The benefits of walking for babies in the first year of life
Many experienced specialists in the field of pediatrics unanimously claim that air baths will only benefit the baby. Should I take my child for a walk if he has a runny nose or rhinitis? Of course yes! Fresh air in itself has an extremely beneficial effect on the child’s body. A double effect can be achieved when walks take place in a park area, forest belt, etc. Air baths have a hardening effect on the baby’s body and teach them ways to deal with changes in ambient temperature, wind or cold. All this forms and strengthens the child’s immune system.
In addition, under the influence of fresh air, blood circulation significantly improves, all microbes and toxic substances accumulated in the body in the nasal passage are killed. The feeling of dryness in the nasopharynx disappears, since all respiratory tracts are perfectly moistened by fresh air. Sometimes only on the street does the baby have the opportunity to fully clear his throat. This effect of air baths on the respiratory system has a positive effect on blood circulation, which in turn leads to an increase in the performance of all the baby’s organs and improves his well-being.
Fresh air is an absolutely free medicine, so it is necessary to regularly ventilate the entire house, and especially the children's bedroom. By killing germs and toxins, fresh air will help the patient recover and strengthen the immune system of a healthy child. Make it a rule to ventilate the room while you and your baby are walking outside.
Basic rules for walking
Despite the obvious benefits of walking in the fresh air, parents should know and follow certain rules:
- Don't wrap your baby up too much. Increased activity of children during walks begins from a very young age. Many mothers go outside in winter with their babies, who are wrapped in countless clothes. With this option, the baby has a huge risk of sweating and catching a cold from a gust of wind within seconds.
- No need to walk in windy and rainy weather. The destructive combination of cold wind and wet clothes and shoes will not contribute to the baby’s recovery, but will only worsen his well-being.
- Before a walk, be sure to let your child blow his nose or clean his nasal passages yourself. Proper breathing through the nose is the basic rule of walking. Even with rhinitis, the baby must breathe through the nose to avoid a cold in the throat.
- Be sure to respect the timing of your walk with your child. In warm weather, you can walk for 40-60 minutes, and in windy weather this time is reduced to 20 minutes. This time will be enough to allow the baby to get enough fresh air and avoid worsening his condition.
In what cases should you avoid walking with your child if you have a runny nose?
There are a number of regulations according to which keeping a child outside will not bring any benefit. Parents need to closely monitor their children and be sensitive to any changes in their well-being. Should I take my child for a walk if he has a runny nose or cough? It's up to you to decide! Parents know better the condition of the baby at the moment, better than leading specialists. If you observe only a slight runny nose in your baby, then feel free to hit the road.
But if the following signs occur, it is better to stay home:
- General weakness of the child. As a result of the fight against the disease, the baby experiences a loss of strength, lethargy and decreased energy.
- High body temperature of the baby. If the temperature is above 37.5°C, you should postpone your walk.
- Adverse weather conditions. There is no need to drag your child outside in severe frost, rain or wind. Wait for weather that is more conducive to walking.
- The presence of allergic reactions to certain irritants that you may encounter with your baby on the street. For example, it could be an allergy to pollen from flowering plants. In this case, during a walk the baby will have an allergic runny nose in addition to the usual runny nose. Is it possible to walk with a child with a runny nose if he is susceptible to such allergies? Can! All you have to do is put a cotton-gauze bandage on him, shorten the walking time and try to avoid having a large amount of irritant nearby.
Try not to take a child with a runny nose to playgrounds. This poses a two-pronged danger to your baby and the children on the playground. It is better to take a walk in the park, away from busy highways.
This is what this famous children's specialist answers to the question: “Is it possible to walk with a child with a runny nose?” Dr. Komarovsky is convinced that a child of any age needs walks, regardless of the presence of a runny nose or cough. He also focuses the attention of parents on creating favorable conditions at home that will contribute to the rapid recovery of the baby. In order to prevent the nasal mucosa from drying out, it is necessary to maintain the required temperature and humidity in the room where the child is.
“Children simply need fresh street air!” says Dr. Komarovsky. He also says that doubly clean air is beneficial for babies who have problems with the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Naturally, it is necessary to wait out the acute period of illness at home, but be sure to provide the child with the necessary humidity and temperature in the room. When the baby begins to recover, you can safely go for a walk!
Can you walk with your child if you have a runny nose or cough in severe frost? In extreme weather conditions, Komarovsky asks parents not to perform heroic deeds. Don't turn walks with children into polar expeditions! During such short periods of severe frost, it is better to stay at home. Even a week of constantly keeping your baby at home will cause him less harm than walking at a temperature of -30°C. Besides, a child definitely needs healthy parents!
The doctor calls mandatory nasal breathing another fundamentally important rule for walking. Before going out into fresh, clean air, it is necessary to ensure that the nasal airways are open, which can warm the cold street air to the required temperature. Mouth breathing is fundamentally wrong for walking and will lead to illness in the child.
In what cases can you walk with a child with a fever?
A sick child is deprived of many of the joys of life. He cannot play with his toys, sleeps in his crib for a long time, and suffers from fever. Is it possible to walk with a child with a fever, and on what day of illness? Fresh air and sun rays help to cope with the disease, so it is unwise to refuse a walk altogether. However, you should take into account the baby’s condition, weather conditions and season of the year. Let's consider these questions in detail.
The prohibition includes infectious contagious diseases.
When are outdoor walks recommended?
For responsible parents who do not know whether it is possible to walk with a sick child in the fresh air, pediatric therapists recommend that they be guided by how high the child’s temperature is. So, walks are allowed if the temperature does not exceed 37.5 degrees.
At the same time, one should not be afraid of observing concomitant symptoms in a child, represented by a cough and runny nose. Similar symptoms are characteristic of many diseases of the respiratory system, in which walking in the fresh air can be extremely beneficial. The fact is that staying in the fresh air provides the necessary ventilation of the respiratory system, which is extremely important for the speedy resolution of diseases.
Very often, during walks, parents encounter increased coughing in their baby and the appearance of sputum. As a rule, such a symptom is perceived with caution and many mothers and fathers rush to return home with the baby.
Doctors do not recommend viewing such symptoms from a negative side, because increased coughing and sputum discharge indicate processes of cleansing the organs of the respiratory system.
It is not recommended to take a child whose temperature exceeds the permissible level of 37.5 degrees outside.
Walking in the cold
If a child’s body temperature has risen due to an infection or cold, then you don’t have to be afraid to take him for a walk in the fresh frosty air, as this can bring the following benefits:
- the greater the temperature difference between the exhaled and inhaled air, the higher the likelihood of a decrease in body temperature as a result of such a walk;
- When a baby warms the frosty air with his nose, it thereby moisturizes the mucous membrane, accelerating the discharge of sputum.
If a child has a coughing attack or the amount of nasal discharge has sharply increased, you should not immediately take him into a warm room. He must clear his throat, otherwise his condition may worsen .
Walking in the cold.